Shark · Australia
Where to see sharks in Australia
About this list
A common trap when looking for places to see sharks in Australia is a trip sold as if the sighting were certain. Maptlantis lists only operators that name the shark as a target species, 15 of them. Places that only mention a chance sighting are left out. Regions on record: QLD, Cairns, Eyre Peninsula & Port Lincoln, South Australia, WA, Coral Bay, Exmouth & Ningaloo, Western Australia, WA, Horizontal Falls and Mandurah & Bunbury, Western Australia. Encounters are split into scuba diving, swimming, boat-based watching, snorkeling and land-based watching. Two "shark tours" can differ completely in rules and price when one watches from the boat and the other puts you in the water. 14 of the 15 operators (93%) publish prices on their own channels, so you can compare those directly; ask the rest. Estimated prices are not shown. The 2 operators that state a season for shark programs in Australia cluster in year-round. That is the operators' operating period, not a promise that the animals will appear. No operator can guarantee a wildlife sighting, and rules on approach distance and in-water permits differ by country.
Shark season in Australia
Year-round
- JanJanuary: in season
- FebFebruary: in season
- MarMarch: in season
- AprApril: in season
- MayMay: in season
- JunJune: in season
- JulJuly: in season
- AugAugust: in season
- SepSeptember: in season
- OctOctober: in season
- NovNovember: in season
- DecDecember: in season
The months 2 operators state as their program season, combined. That is the operators' operating period, not a sighting guarantee; each operator's months are in the shark season table.
15 listed operators
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Australia · QLD, Cairns
Spoilsport
Scuba divingSnorkelingIsland hopping & boat trips- Season
- Mar–Apr, Jun–Jan
- Price
- See the operator page
- Checked
- Official source
Australia · Eyre Peninsula & Port Lincoln, South Australia
Calypso Star Charters
Scuba divingSnorkelingSwimming- Season
- Year-round
- Price
- A$630
- Checked
- Official source
Australia · Eyre Peninsula & Port Lincoln, South Australia
Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions
Scuba divingLiveaboardMarine life encounters- Season
- Year-round
- Price
- A$2,795 and up
- Checked
- Official source
Australia · WA, Coral Bay
Coral Bay Ecotours
SnorkelingSwimmingIsland hopping & boat trips- Season
- Mar–Oct
- Price
- A$70
- Checked
- Official source
Australia · WA, Coral Bay
Ningaloo Coral Bay Boats
FreedivingSnorkelingSwimming- Season
- Year-round
- Price
- A$245
- Checked
- Official source
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Australia · WA, Coral Bay
Ningaloo Marine Interactions
SwimmingMarine life encounters- Season
- Mar–Oct
- Price
- A$315 and up
- Checked
- Official source
Australia · WA, Coral Bay
Skeleton Beach Shark Nursery
Beach & water playFamily & kidsMarine life encounters- Season
- Oct–Mar
- Price
- Price on request
- Checked
- Government registry
Australia · Exmouth & Ningaloo, Western Australia
Kings Ningaloo Reef Tours
SnorkelingSwimmingMarine life encounters- Season
- Apr–Sep
- Price
- AUD 625 / swimmer
- Checked
- Official source
Australia · Exmouth & Ningaloo, Western Australia
Live Ningaloo
SnorkelingSwimmingMarine life encounters- Season
- Mar–Oct
- Price
- A$600
- Checked
- Official source
Australia · Exmouth & Ningaloo, Western Australia
Ocean Eco Adventures
SnorkelingSwimmingFamily & kids- Season
- Mar–Oct
- Price
- AUD 648 / person
- Checked
- Official source
Australia · Exmouth & Ningaloo, Western Australia
Three Islands Whale Shark Dive
SnorkelingSwimmingFamily & kids- Season
- Mar–Oct
- Price
- A$620
- Checked
- Official source
Australia · WA, Horizontal Falls
Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures
SnorkelingSwimmingIsland hopping & boat trips- Season
- Mar–Oct
- Price
- From AUD 1,295 per person
- Checked
- Official source
Australia · Mandurah & Bunbury, Western Australia
Dolphin Discovery Centre
SwimmingFamily & kidsMarine life encounters- Season
- Nov–Apr
- Price
- A$220
- Checked
- Official source
Australia · Shark Bay & Monkey Mia, Western Australia
Island Life Adventures
Island hopping & boat tripsKayak & paddleSurfing & SUP- Season
- Apr–Nov
- Price
- A$324
- Checked
- Official source
Australia · Shark Bay & Monkey Mia, Western Australia
Wula Gura Nyinda Eco Cultural Adventures
SnorkelingKayak & paddleSurfing & SUP- Season
- Year-round
- Price
- A$225
- Checked
- Official source
Sharks in Australia, by region
Sharks in Australia, by way to meet them
Shark season
Sharks in other countries
Other marine life in Australia
Activities in Australia
- Family water activities in Australia265
- Island hopping and boat trips in Australia202
- Snorkeling in Australia178
- Scuba diving in Australia120
- Swimming in Australia117
- Beaches and water play in Australia110
- Marine life encounters in Australia99
- Surfing and SUP in Australia63
- Kayaking and paddling in Australia54
- Liveaboards in Australia27
Frequently asked questions
Where can you see sharks in Australia?
15 operators name the shark as a target species. Main regions: QLD, Cairns, Eyre Peninsula & Port Lincoln, South Australia, WA, Coral Bay, Exmouth & Ningaloo, Western Australia, WA, Horizontal Falls and Mandurah & Bunbury, Western Australia.
Do you have to get in the water to see sharks?
Formats on record: scuba diving, swimming, boat-based watching, snorkeling and land-based watching. Boat-based watching stays on the boat; snorkeling, swimming and freediving put you in the water. Some countries ban getting in the water altogether, so check the format in the program details.
When is shark season?
The 2 operators that state a season for shark programs in Australia cluster in year-round. That is the operators' operating period, not a promise that the animals will appear.
Will I definitely see them?
No. Sharks are wild animals, and whether you meet them depends on their movements and the sea. Maptlantis does not use wording that promises a sighting, and cancellation and refund terms follow each operator's policy.